Conservatorship

A conservatorship is used when a designated person is assigned to manage another’s personal finances and/or estate.

Listed below, are some frequently asked questions about a guardianship. . .

1. When Is A Conservatorship Required

It may be necessary to petition a court to appoint a legal guardian for persons:

Who have physical or mental problems that prevent them from managing their own financial affairs;

Who have no person already legally authorized to assume responsibility for them; and

Where other kinds of assistance with financial management will not adequately protect them.

2. When can I Establish a Probate Conservatorship? You must be sure that establishing a conservatorship is the only way to meet the person’s needs. If there is another way, the Court will not grant your petition.

You may not need a conservatorship if the person who needs help:

Can cooperate with a plan to meet his/her basic needs.

Has the capacity and willingness to sign a power of attorney naming someone to help you with his/her finances or healthcare decisions.

Has only social security or welfare income every month and the Social Security Administration can appoint you Representative Payee. The Representative Payee is the person the beneficiary allows to receive Social Security checks in their name on behalf of the beneficiary.

Is married and the spouse can handle financial transactions. The property must be community property or in joint accounts.

3. How is a Conservator Appointed? The precise procedure will vary to some degree from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The typical steps are as follows:

a) The person seeking the appointment of a conservator files a petition with the probate court for the jurisdiction where the allegedly legally incapacitated person resides. This petitioner is often a relative, an administrator for a nursing home or health care facility, or other interested person. A petition is ordinarily accompanied by medical affidavits or other sworn statements which evidence the person’s incapacity, and either identifies the person or persons who desire to be named conservator or requests the appointment of a conservator.

b) The court arranges for any necessary evaluation of the allegedly legally incapacitated person. Often, this will involve the appointment of a “guardian ad litem”, a person who is appointed to provide an independent report to the court on behalf of the allegedly legally incapacitated person. If appointed, the guardian ad litem will meet with the allegedly incapacitated person, inform that person of his or her legal rights, and report back to the court on the person’s wishes. The guardian ad litem may also speak to the petitioner, to health care providers, and to other interested individuals in order to provide the court with full information about the allegedly incapacitated person’s condition and prognosis. Depending upon state law, the court may appoint a doctor or professional to examine the allegedly incapacitated person.

c) If the allegedly incapacitated person contests the appointment of a guardian, a trial is scheduled during which sworn testimony will be given, and at the conclusion of which the judge will decide if the petitioner met the requisite burden of proof for the appointment of a guardian.

d) The allegedly incapacitated person is ordinarily entitled to appointed counsel, if unable to afford a private attorney.

e) If the allegedly incapacitated person consents to the petition, or is unable to respond to inquiries due to disability, the court will hold a hearing at which witnesses will provide sworn testimony to support the allegations in the petition. If the evidentiary basis is deemed sufficient, the guardian will be appointed.

f) If a conservator is appointed, the judge will issue the conservator legal documents (often called “letters of authority”) permitting the conservator to act on behalf of the legally incapacitated person.

A conservator will ordinarily receive compensation, subject to court oversight, for performing duties for the estate. This is often charged on an hourly basis, and is ordinarily paid from the estate of the legally incapacitated person.

4. What Are a Conservator’s Duties?

The first duty a conservator has is to take an inventory of the legally incapacitated person’s assets, and to report those assets to the court.

If the conservator will be paying money on behalf of the legally incapacitated person, it will be necessary to open a special checking account reflecting the conservatorship (e.g., in the name of “John Doe, as Conservator for the Estate of Jane Smith”). Courts often require that the checking account return the actual physical checks after they are processed, and that those cancelled checks be maintained as part of the conservator’s records.

The conservator will be responsible to account for all expenditures, and for the assets of the estate, typically on an annual basis or more frequently if ordered by the court.

If the legally incapacitated person has assets that must be maintained, or which are not in use, the conservator may seek court permission to rent or sell those assets. For example, if the legally incapacitated person has a home but will never be able to return home due to illness or disability, it may be wise to sell the home. If the legally incapacitated person is expected to return home, but not for an extended period of time, it will be necessary to maintain the home, and in some circumstances may be appropriate to rent the home during the period when the legally incapacitated person is absent. Similarly, rather than leaving a motor vehicle parked in a garage for years, it may be in the best interest of the legally incapacitated person to sell the vehicle before further depreciation or deterioration from non-use.

If the legally incapacitated person is capable of participating in financial decisions, the conservator is ordinarily required to permit the legally incapacitated person to participate to the extent he or she is able. In some circumstances, a court may appoint a conservator to perform a certain set of tasks which are beyond the ability of the legally incapacitated person, while permitting that person to manage his or her own affairs for other financial tasks which remain within his or her ability.

A conservator is typically required to post a bond, unless the requirement is waived by the court. In most jurisdictions where bond is required, waivers are common.

5. When should the Public Guardian be Conservator?

The Court can sometimes appoint the Public Guardian as conservator. This usually happens when someone makes a referral. Referrals can be made by:

Adult Protective Services (APS)

A relative,

A neighbor,

A doctor,

A police officer,

The Court, or

Another interested person.

6. What is the Purpose of Court Supervision?

The court supervises the conservator’s actions by requiring that permission be obtained in advance of certain major transactions (such as the sale of a legally incapacitated person’s home), and through annual accountings, in order to ensure that the legally incapacitated person’s assets are being properly managed, bills are being paid, nobody is misappropriating funds, and the estate is not being wasted.

7. How Can a Conservatorship Be Ended?

A conservatorship can be terminated by the court which created it. This ordinarily happens if the legally incapacitated person recovers from the incapacity that necessitated the conservatorship. A particular conservator’s role may be terminated by the court or by resignation, in which case the court will ordinarily appoint a successor conservator to take over management of the legally incapacitated person’s assets. A conservatorship also ends upon the death of the legally incapacitated person.

8. How Can I Avoid a Conservatorship?

It is possible to avoid the necessity of a conservatorship through estate planning. A good estate plan will include a general durable power of attorney to permit a trusted individual to manage your personal affairs in the event of your incapacity. You may also create a more limited power of attorney, which protects your assets in the manner you desire rather than leaving their management to the discretion of a conservator or court. In most cases, when this document has been executed in accord with the laws of your state, it will not be necessary for your loved ones to seek the appointment of a conservator should something happen to you.
You may also choose to place your assets into a living trust, such that they are automatically under the management of a designated trustee in the event that you become disabled.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.